A unique blog dedicated to covering the worlds of book publishing and the news media, revealing creative ideas, practical strategies, interesting stories, and provocative opinions. Along the way, discover savvy but entertaining insights on book marketing, public relations, branding, and advertising from a veteran of two decades in the industry of book publishing publicity and marketing.

Follow by Email

Friday, June 23, 2017

How Writers & Book Publishers Should Work Their Network

Here
are 11 tips for authors, publishers, book promoters and marketers to utilize to
become a powerful network in a networked society:

1.Decide
to make networking a part of your everyday life. Commit to it mentally and time-wise. Visualize
the benefits of networking and align your actions and communications with the
goal to build up a quality network of connections.

2.Provide
your contacts through social media good value, offering guidance, direction,
resources, or a genuine offer to help them.
They should return the favor.

3.Where
possible, move to face-to-face contact with your network. That is the best way to make a true human
connection. The phone is next best -- or
Skype. Email or online interactions may
be convenient, but they lack sound or physical presence.

4.Researchers
show that although on average we might meet 200-1000 people a year, we can
only handle some 150 contacts. The rest
fall through the cracks. Choose your
relationships carefully and see which ones are worth nurturing.

5.Have
a clear vision of what you want to achieve with the people you network
with. Many contacts may not be able to
help you directly, but they can lead you to those who will help. At the very least, they may offer
information, advice, and emotional support or encouragement.

6.Always
realize that you are responsible for the message others receive from or about
you. How do you brand or positon
yourself? Are you giving clear
explanation of who you are, what you do, who you know? Do you offer clear stories, narratives, or
examples of what you’ve accomplished?

7.Do
you give off a positive vibe, an inviting or helpful feeling? Are you friendly and approachable? Are you a
good listener and do you ask questions that not only inform you but show you
have a genuine interest in them?

8.What
value do you claim to offer others? Is
it your experience or current job? Is it
your knowledge and professionalism? Is
it your personality? Or is it the size
and quality of your network?

9.Do
you radiate negative energy? No one
wants to be near a needy person. Are you
a Debbie Downer? Remain positive,
optimistic, smile and laugh.

10.Develop
an empowering 15-second elevator speech about who you are. Share it with everyone.

11.Find
model networkers and analyze what’s so appealing about them. How do they approach conversations? What do
they say or offer? How do they follow up with those they meet? How do they
dress or sound? What’s their body language, voice, or intensity like? What kind of vocabulary level do they employ?

The
key to networking is to come across as being genuinely helpful while you are
really focused on finding others to give you what you need. This requires research, communication, luck
and sustained effort. Put yourself out
there – join groups and attend events.
Take a leadership positon with some groups.

Always
think long-term and short-term. Think of
your goals and whom could help you. Seek
them out. Be assertive. Look to make the right connections and be prepared to
give something to get something.

You
don’t necessarily need to know a lot of people, just the right ones. But you need more than a surface
connection. You need to develop a
relationship that yields results.

The
good news is it’s easier than ever to network.
You can research those you want to meet. You can find ways online to
introduce yourself. Then follow-up with
a call or in-person meeting. It’s like
dating. Tomorrow you may meet Mr. or Mrs.
Right. Not everyone will be your soul
mate, but it just takes a few good people to get you where you want to be.

About Me

Brian Feinblum, the creator and author of BookMarketingBuzzBlog, is the chief marketing officer for the nation's largest book promotions firm, Media Connect (www.Media-Connect.com), formerly Planned Television Arts, and has been involved in book publicity and marketing since 1989. He has served several book publishing companies as a publicist, book editor, and acquisitions editor. Brian, who earned a BA in English from Brooklyn College, became a published author in 1995 when he penned The Florida Homeowner, Condo and Co-Op Handbook. He resides in Westchester, New York with his wife, two young children, and an English Bulldog.